November 2, 2024

Aeolus assisted reentry: when and where

The key stages of Aeolus reentry. Credit: ESA/Earth Observation Graphics Bureau.

The last manoeuvre is set up for Friday 28 July, when a last command will direct Aeolus home from an altitude of 150 km to simply 120 km. Then, the satellite will reenter.

After completing its mission, Aeolus has actually been falling from its functional altitude of 320 km considering that 19 June.

ESAs keeper of the winds is getting back.

Operators at ESA objective control in Germany have actually been keeping a close eye on Aeolus. As quickly as it reaches 280 km on Monday 24 July, using the last of Aeolus fuel, the very first of a number of vital manoeuvres will be carried out to steer ESAs wind satellite gradually back to Earth.

At around 80 km, the majority of the satellite will burn up, but a few fragments may reach Earths surface area.

Where will Aeolus reenter?

Effective or not, the attempt paves the method for the safe return of active satellites that were never designed for regulated reentry.

By targeting the Atlantic ocean, which uses the best satellite visibility during the critical final reentry stages, the effort will even more decrease the danger of Aeolus reentry by 42 times compared to a natural reentry.

The pioneering effort to help Aeolus reentry is a complex and unique job. It might not work. Nevertheless, if at any phase the effort need to be terminated, Aeolus will reenter naturally as originally planned.

The pioneering effort to assist Aeolus reentry is a complex and unique task. It may not work. If at any phase the effort need to be aborted, Aeolus will reenter naturally as originally prepared.

The basic threat from reentering satellites is currently really low. The threat of an individual being hit by a piece of area particles is roughly three times lower than the threat from a falling meteorite.

Objective researchers and engineers have worked tirelessly to determine the ideal orbit for Aeolus to reenter Earth, which targets a remote stretch of the Atlantic ocean.